01 September 2011

Twitter, Twitter, Fo Fitter...

Last month I moved into the 21st century and got a Twitter account. Honestly, I have to say that I am still unclear about what twitter is or does. But it seems the in thing to do-- like tapering and rolling up your pants in the late 80s... (an eternal mystery of fashion to some of us!!)-- everyone does it, even many of us who couldn't tell you why!!

I have been mulling the relative pros and cons to public life on twitter and a blog. I mean, why HAVE a blog if you don't publicize it? Why bother writing for the world to see if you are going to write your message and then sink it to the bottom of the sea without even a bottle to float in and a chance to get to shore?!?

I am crazy about privacy. Or at least my husband has made me that way. His job is such that I can't be out talking about him or he'll have problems at work. And he's paranoid that I might expose our children to some crazy pedophile while posting a pic among friends on Facebook. And he's right-- the world can be scary, and my mother taught me never to talk to strangers. :-)

I am curious about how other people perceive privacy and the internet. On the one hand, connecting with a zillion other people through common interests is amazing. I am all for finding friends, mentors and kindred spirits through whatever means you can find!

On the other hand, the relative anonymity (which I am, of course, utilizing to my advantage at this moment!) also leads to many questions about the people with whom you are connecting. Without seeing a person and looking them in the eye, how can any of us be confident that we are sharing with people worthy of our inner thoughts?

I get that my cards and random thoughts perhaps aren't terribly personal, but they COULD be. They might be. Maybe some day they will be...